Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: freys on July 09, 2022, 05:57:59 AM
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After lots of back and forth, I moved ahead with the purchase of this beautiful 1993 Essence 6-string. In my late teens I coveted Phil's and Stanley Clarke's Alembic basses. It it has taken me until age 57 to be in position to actually make it happen. I figure I will have about 30 years to get things sorted.
Still not entirely certain about the woods as I await details from the serial number search. It matters little, however, as love is blind.
Would love to hear about folk's experiences with similar instruments, and the transition to 6-string.
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Beautiful bass, congratulations! I think the top is schedua. The neck is maple with likely walnut pin stripes. I think the fingerboard is Paul ferro. Very nice! Do you have a picture of the back of the body?
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rv_bass,
Thank you for this! I will add a photo of the back as soon as it arrives....hopefully Monday. Had some before I purchased it but cannot get my hands on them.
Best,
Scott
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I can see a little bit of the body wood on the side of top horn, but can’t tell for sure if it is mahogany from that photo. Also, there is a thin maple laminate between the top and body, and the fingerboard could possibly be Macassar ebony as well. Nice!
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I agree with Rob, that looks like a schedua top. A little bit unusual for its time, but was often seen on classic Alembics. My second guess would be bubinga. Whatever its origin, that made a nice-looking top! Also agree, maple neck, w/walnut stringers. Probably mahogany body core. I see the Volume/Pan/Filter circuit, a very user-friendly interface. The very Essence of an Alembic. I think you're going to enjoy that one.
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Greg, bubinga is a good suggestion. Here’s an example from the Alembic site that looks similar…
http://www3.alembic.com/img/DET_OLG_bubingaL.jpg
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I was also thinking bubinga, but I guess we will know for certain once I hear back on the serail number search from Mica.
Was thrown off by the straight bridge at first. I loke the look of the curved Alembic style, but perhaps this gives some more flexibility in 6-string spacing....
Thanks for all the nice feedback and wishes everyone. Much appreciated.
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The Bubinga I have seen is somewhat darker and tight grained but I am no expert.
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Finally some photos! I think that this instrument saw very little use over the past 29 years. A new set of strings, and it plays amazingly well. I am grateful to have large hands for this beast.
Still not sure about the woods, and hope that these may clarify in the hands of you experts.
Thanks in advance.